Method of sealing



Remind Sept. 22,1931

UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE.

CARL A. MATSON, or LYNNFIELD, mssacnnsnrrs METHOD OF SEALING ing the same in a wrapper of paper, fabric,

or the like, or in packaging articles and attaching an encircling band thereto, it has invariably'been the custom to apply adhesive to the covering material, while the adhesive was wet, or it has been customary, if the covering material was already coated with a layer of adhesive, to wet or moisten such adhesive material before the same could be utilized. The result has been that the process of packaging by these methods is extremely slow, as it is necessary to hold the covering material in position a suflicient length of time to allow the adhesive to set, otherwise the enclosing material may be pulled apart. Also, it was necessary to keep such packaged articles away from moisture as the moisture attacked the adhesive, with the result that the packaging was destroyed.

In my present invention, I have obviated objections to prior methods of packaging, and the object of my invention, therefore, is an improved method of sealing or packaging,

In carrying out my invention, I utilize an adhesive which is preferably previously applied to the enclosing material for the articles to be packaged, and which adhesive is dry, or nearly so, and which becomes sufliciently soft under the application of heat to adhere strongly to a portion of the covering material to which it is already applied. Such adhesive is softened but momentarily and becomes hard practically instantaneously and is not aflected by moisture. This characteristic of the adhesive to set instantaneously on the withdrawal of heat therefrom enables me to substantially speed up the process of packaging and thus to reduce the cost of producing packaged articles.

The adhesive is characterized by the fact, that it is in dr or nearly dry'form, the percentage of moisture content being neglig1-' ble and such adhesive is preferably of a collodial nature, which, after hlating, has practically all trace of its solvent driven away 1927. Serial No. 191,542.

andis not ordinarily affected by heat. Such adhesive may come in any preferred form,

such as thin sheets which may be placed between two opposing surfaces of an enclosing material such as paper or. fabric, and'the heat and some slight pressure is applied to the enclosing material on either side of the adhesive, which becomes momentarily softened and then immediately'sets, and it has been found impossible to separate the layers of enclosing materials from each other. .If de sired, such adhesive may be applied in liquid hesive is practically dry and the portion of the material, such as the label having the adhesive thereon, is brought over into engagement with a clean portion of the material and attached together.

The specific ingredients of the improved ble of being softened on the application of heat and pressure. An example of such adhesive is commercial collodion.

Having thus described my invention, what claim as new is: r

1. That improved method of wrapping and sealing which consists in applying a nonhygroscopic adhesive to the enclosing materials of the articles to be wrapped and sealed and applying heat momentarily thereto.

2. That improved method of wrapping and sealing which consists in applying a nonhygroscopic adhesive to the enclosing materials of the articles to be wrapped and sealed and applying momentary heat and pressure thereto simultaneously.

3. That improvement in the art of wrapping and sealing which consists in applying to the enclosing material of the articles to be wrapped and sealed, a non-hygroscopic adhesive in dry .form and of a collodial nature capable of being softened on the momentary application of heat, applying momentarily to the adhesive both heat and pressure where by the adhesive becomes instantly set.

4. That improvement in the art of wrapping and sealing which consists in applying 5 to the enclosing material of the articles to be Wrapped and sealed, a liquid non-hygroscopic adhesive of a collodial nature capable of being softened on the momentary application of heat, allowing the same to dry, and applying momentarily to the adhesive both heat and pressure whereby the adhesive becomes instantly set.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CARL A. MATSON. 

